ALVA, Okla. — Northwestern Oklahoma State was able to hold off Southern Nazarene Sunday in a pair of close contests as the Rangers won 2-1 in extra innings in the opener before withstanding a late Storm run to win 4-2 in the nightcap.
 
Despite getting a career-high 15 strikeouts from Kayla Wyatt in the opener, the Crimson Storm (7-9, 4-4 GAC) had just five hits and left eight on base in the loss. Wyatt tossed the complete game allowing just two runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings of work. She moved to 3-3 on the year.
 
The Crimson Storm struck first when Kylie Lang scored on a passed ball to give the Storm a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Rangers answered though in the bottom of the third to tie it at 1-1. The game stayed tied through the seventh into extra innings. Northwestern held the Storm scoreless in the top of the eighth and then put a runner in scoring position when Jessika Sandoval ripped a one-out double to left center. A single and a walk later loaded the bases for Shelby Anderson who laced a single up the middle for the game-winner.
 
Melissa Padilla led the way for the Storm going 2-for-3.
 
In the nightcap, the Rangers took the first lead of the game with a run in the bottom of the second, but SNU responded in the top of the third when Katelyn Brown roped a double down the left field line to score Padilla.
 
Northwestern started to pull away in the fifth with three runs to lead 4-1, but SNU tried to close the gap in the seventh. SNU had runners at second and third with two outs when Sydni Toilolo singled to left center to cut it to 4-2. The Storm though couldn't catch a break though as Brown lined out to third to end the game.
 
Brown went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI while both Padilla and Toilolo went 2-for-4. Brown (4-6) also took the loss as she gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. She also struck out three.